October 1, 2021
Every year, we think, “It can’t get any better,” and every year you prove us wrong. Our judges had another difficult time trying to decide—among thousands of submissions—which photos were the best of the best of Nevada. With a particular focus (get it?) on images that evoked an emotional response, we present this year’s cream of the photographical crop.
CHRISTOPHER BALLADAREZ, GRAND PRIZE
Christopher Balladarez is this year’s grand prize winner of the Great Nevada Picture Hunt—congratulations!
“It was snowing on The Strip when we left Las Vegas. We arrived at Valley of Fire at blue hour to discover a sky that had me nothing but pessimistic. I knew getting the shot I wanted wasn’t going to happen, so I sat and enjoyed the scenery in acceptance. Then, out of nowhere, a little bit of light came through as this bighorn sheep posed almost symmetrically in the middle of the composition and looked at me. I love putting subjects in frame to depict the scale of a landscape, and here I am looking at one of the most rare but natural lineups I’ve ever witnessed. And just like that, the sheep was gone.” ©Christopher Balladarez. Canon 5D Mark IV, 1/160s, f/10, ISO 400 KIM STEED, 1ST PLACE, WILDLIFE
“This ruffled quail was photographed near my home in the Johnson Lane area of Carson Valley. There is a dirt road I drive where quail often sit on top of the fence posts. On this particular day, the sun was setting, so the light was shining perfectly on this little guy when he started to shake and fluff up.” ©Kim Steed. Nikon D750, 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO 250 PAIGE SHAW, RUNNER-UP, WILDLIFE
“This photo was taken at the River Fork Ranch Trail System, a mile east of Genoa. I had my tripod set up and was taking a photo of the sunrise when this gorgeous 4-point mule deer buck entered the frame. I was so startled that I missed the perfect shot, and the buck ran ahead to hide in the willows. Tiptoeing north of the willow trees, I setup for the shot. This time, I was prepared!” ©Paige Shaw. Sony a7RIII GRETCHEN BAKER, 1ST PLACE, LANDSCAPE
“I like to climb Wheeler Peak every year. This summer, I had waited a little too long, and the wildfire smoke was already coming in. Fortunately, it wasn’t too smoky at the top, but there was a nice filter effect in the air. As I descended, a patch of color caught my eye. Parry’s primrose, usually a riparian flower, grows near the top of Wheeler Peak. I angled to include it in my photo to give a delightful pop.” ©Gretchen Baker. Google Pixel 3a, 1/690s, f/1.8, ISO 50 SCOTT MORTIMORE, RUNNER-UP, LANDSCAPE
“It was one of those May days in Nevada where winter was having a hard time handing over keys to the summer. My buddy and I had just dropped down from the Toquimas and hit this stretch at the same time a ray of sun was crossing the road. The distant hailstorm provided the perfect cherry.” ©Scott Mortimore. Nikon D750, 1/100s, f/9 LIZ HUNTINGTON, 1ST PLACE, CITIES/TOWNS
“This spring, Virginia City lost one of its own: StinkE, loved by locals and tourists alike. On March 25, townsfolk gathered in period costume and long johns in a funeral procession—complete with bagpipe music and a mule team—to carry their friend to the Silver Terrace Cemetery. It was a sad but beautiful time as people rallied in love around StinkE to send him off to the great mining camp in the sky.” ©Liz Huntington. Canon 5D Mark IV, 1/500s, f/4.5, ISO 200
MICHAEL HERB, RUNNER-UP, CITIES/TOWNS
“I awoke very early as the forecast had predicted snow; I’d been wanting to capture downtown Fallon before the town awoke for years. I quickly overdressed, grabbed my camera, and headed into town. Upon arriving, I was disappointed to see that the snow had barely reached downtown. Instead, I had something so much better: a mirror-like reflection of the town Christmas tree!” ©Michael Herb. Sony A7RIV, 1/10s, f/5.6, ISO 400 JAMES MARVIN PHELPS, 1ST PLACE, LONG EXPOSURE
“This image of Comet NEOWISE was captured at 3:51 a.m. at Lake Mead’s Sunset Overlook Point. I was out shooting with friends Dan and Danny, and the three of us had a great time witnessing the once-in-a-lifetime event. We were able to get many good captures of the comet with the otherworldly landscape of Lake Mead and the Mojave Desert.” ©James Marvin Phelps. Canon 5D Mark IV, 12s, f/2.8, ISO 640 JESSE BRADFORD, RUNNER-UP, LONG EXPOSURE
“This was taken near the top of Kingsbury Grade looking at Job’s Peak. The Carson Valley was experiencing a rare inversion, which left the mountains clear and the valley coated in clouds. I went out at about 10 p.m. in hopes of catching the moon between the clouds. The moon ended up covered, but the cars and their lights disappearing into the fog caught my eye.” ©Jesse Bradford. Fujifilm X-T4, 240s, f/2.8, ISO 200 LIZ HUNTINGTON, 1ST PLACE, EVENTS
“Virginia City hosts a rodeo every year in autumn. This was my first time to photograph a rodeo, and I was delighted. I quickly set my camera settings and clicked as fast as I could while the cowboys rode. It was so fun that I wanted to run away and become a rodeo photographer. But, after contemplating the matter, I decided it was probably best if I stayed home and took care of my family instead.” ©Liz Huntington. Canon 5D Mark IV, 1/500s, f/4.5, ISO 200 BETH BRETON, RUNNER-UP, EVENTS
“The event was held at Sparks Marina. I had never been to a lantern festival before, and I really wanted to see it. We decorated our lanterns and then everyone put them in the water. It was awesome.” ©Beth Breton. Canon 70D, 1/6s, f/6.3, ISO 6400 GRETCHEN BAKER, 1ST PLACE, BLACK & WHITE
“This is one of my most favorite bristlecone pines in the world. It’s in a difficult location in Great Basin National Park, but it’s worth the lung-burning ascent. The roots are something that really catch my attention; the tree has lived so long that the rocks around the roots have eroded away. It’s extremely uncommon to have something biological outlast something geological.” ©Gretchen Baker. Google Pixel 2, 1/4637s, f/1.8, ISO 81 KIM STEED, RUNNER-UP, BLACK & WHITE
“I shot this wagon wheel in Genoa on a very cold morning at around 6 a.m. I loved the backdrop of alpenglow on the mountains and the mist rising from the hot springs.” ©Kim Steed. Nikon D750, 1/800s, f/1.8, ISO 250 MARK SILVERSTEIN, 1ST PLACE, HUMOROUS
“My wife Maureen and I had just finished a morning southeast of Goodsprings. On the way back to town, we turned up the Old LA Highway and came upon this caution sign posted for the protection of skydiving operations out of Jean Airport. There was a raven perched on the sign, and I happened to catch it in the process of taking off.” ©Mark Silverstein. Canon Rebel EOS T2i, 1/1600s, f/5, ISO 200 SCOTT McDANIEL, RUNNER-UP, HUMOROUS
“This photo was taken several miles into the mountains between Pioche and Eagle Lake Reservoir in Lincoln County. My friend Pete—the model—and I had kayaks on top of my UTV. We were exploring the area when I spotted the rock formation in the photo. The rock’s shape and angles resembled rapids on a river, and the idea struck me to place the kayak.” ©Scott McDaniel. Nikon D60, 1/60s, f/6.3, ISO 100 KAT FULWIDER, 1ST PLACE, PEOPLE/PORTRAITS
“I went to witness the Borda Ranch team herd more than a thousand sheep through an underpass in Washoe Valley. It happened so fast; it was a symphony of moving parts coming together to create a sublime moment. The sheep began to run, the stampede kicking up a huge cloud of dust, Ted Borda chasing after them, and the blazing morning light filtering through.” ©Kat Fulwider. Sony Alpha 7iii, 1/8000s, f/5.6, ISO 640 ELEANOR PREGER, RUNNER-UP, PEOPLE/PORTRAITS
“Photograph is of Steven Raspa, a very creative, passionate arts advocate. I did a photoshoot with him the night before Burning Man opened. The playa dirt was still in its virgin state before it turns to dust after being driven or walked on. I had him pick up some of the dirt, as if it were an offering. He was wearing the metal scarf as a veil, which belonged to his recently deceased mother.” ©Eleanor Preger. Canon 5D MarkIV, 1/1600s, f/3.5, ISO 100 GRETCHEN BAKER, 1ST PLACE, MOBILE/CELL
“When I saw this bristlecone pine in the Mt. Moriah Wilderness silhouetted against the sky, I just had to hike up to get a closer look at it. Its graceful shape made me think of a dancing bristlecone, and the sunset gave the background clouds some extra drama.” ©Gretchen Baker. Google Pixel 2, 1/1462s, f/1.8, ISO 46 BRITNEY KLAPPER, RUNNER-UP, MOBILE/CELL
“This photo was taken at Adams-McGill Reservoir in Sunnyside at 4:42 a.m. I was with my dad and sister fishing for bass as we have done since I was a little girl. To me, Sunnyside has so much to offer: beautiful sunrises and sunsets, great fishing, and lots of love and memories of our family’s time spent there. And I may have just given away one of the desert’s best kept secrets (sorry Dad).” ©Britney Klapper. iPhone XS Max, 1/30s, f/1.8, ISO 800 SUBMITTED BY SCOTT STEWART, 1ST PLACE, UNDER 18
Photo was taken by 5-year-old Landon Stewart during a photo walk at his favorite playground in North Las Vegas. Landon comes from a picture taking family; his grandfather is a retired photojournalist, and his dad is a videographer. “Because he had been doing well with his picture taking since age 3, we had just given him his second camera: a 16MP point and shoot,” said his grandfather. KALEIGH TAYLOR, RUNNER-UP, UNDER 18
“This year, Tonopah had the 50th Jim Butler Days celebration. On Sunday, the weekend ended with the Stampede Rodeo. I left my camera at home, so grandma let me use one of hers. The rodeo was so much fun; I can’t wait till the next one, and I love Nevada Magazine!!” ©Kaleigh Taylor. Nikon D5500, 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO 400
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